I'm shaking profusely when the paramedics and the police arrive. I can barely lace two thoughts together as I try passing off my attire.
"No, no, it's just ketchup," I try to assure the people as they swarm over me. My voice shakes a little and I wonder if they catch it.
Maria notices how shaky I am and lets me sit in one of the incredibly green booths while she tells the Sheriff what happened. I hear her vaguely, I think I was going into shock…things just passed by at a rate to which my mind couldn't' even begin to comprehend. My life had just hit a perfect 180 degree spin and I couldn't hold onto anything anymore, everything was out of reach and for the first time since I threw those fated pieces of paper into my hat, I was unsure of what to do next. Completely thrown for a loop.
Out of the corner of my mind I heard the little bell on the Crashdown door ring once again, and an older woman with brown hair busted through and made a beeline straight for Maria.
I couldn't stop staring as Maria caught my gaze. She pulled the woman over to one of the empty tables and began talking animatedly to her. Every once in a while she and who I assumed to be her mother looked my way.
They seemed to argue for a bit before her mother finally took another glance at me and apparently ceded in the argument. Maria smiled as they walked over and sat opposite of me in the booth.
"Maria told me that you're new here," she asked.
I nodded absently.
"Where are you staying?"
"E.T Inn"
Her mother's lip curls up and I can see that I chose the most decrepit motel in all of Roswell as my home.
"You can come and stay with us," I hear the words come out and my jaw drops slightly.
"We have a room to rent and it seems like you are getting settled in Roswell," she looked around, "although I'm not sure if you want to stay after a scare like this."
I licked my lips, my throat was awfully dry.
"I plan on staying, this could have happened anywhere, and I would be very grateful for a place to stay."
Maria's mom folded her hands back and forth and then appeared to realize what state I was in.
"Where are my manners?" she asked to no one in particular, "Come back to the house with Maria and I, you can get cleaned up and I'll go get the rest of your belongings from the Inn."
"Would that be alright?"
Would that be all right? She was offering me the equivalent of gold and I was not about to ignore her offer. I nodded and gave her a small smile. I was suddenly very tired and a sense of loneliness suddenly pervaded me. The voice in the back of my head, which had doubted this entire expedition, was now getting louder.
So Maria and I drove back to her house while Ms. Deluca drove back to my room to get my stuff.
Maria showed me into her room as she picked out some clothes and introduced me to the shower.
I turned the knob as hot as it would go and just stood under the spray, hoping that the heat would wash away the doubts in my mind and leave only strength behind. Things don't work like that though, and soon I found myself sitting on the shower floor, my arms curled around my legs as I sobbed. For what reason I don't know, possibly overwhelmed, possibly underwhelmed. I cried for the longest time until I heard Maria knock at the door and ask if I was all right. I told her I was fine and I washed up quickly. I got out and wrapped myself into one of those enormous bath towels. I leaned forward over the sink and wiped away the steam from the mirror.
I grabbed the comb that Maria had lent me and began to comb through the unfamiliar blond locks.
"Who are you?" I whispered to the girl in the mirror.
I took the towel off and glanced into the mirror once again, and gasped. What the heck? I ran my fingers just above my belly button, for there was a silver handprint, at the same place where Max had placed his hand and assured me with his chocolate-brown eyes, that I would be fine. I shook my head, trying to get back into reality as I pulled on the jeans and t-shirt that Maria had given me. When I stepped out of the shower Maria was laying on the bed reading a magazine.
"And I thought I took long showers" she said grinning widely. She went serious then and added "do you feel better?"
"Thank you, I feel a lot better, in fact"
I heard a door shut and then Maria's mother appeared holding my duffel bag, "are you sure this is all the luggage you have?" she asked with a frown.
"Uh, yeah, I travel light, Ms. Deluca"
"Oh no, call me Amy, Ms. Deluca makes me sound old," she said with a grin. Maria rolled her eyes, "that is because you are old," she said with a grin.
My heart ached for a moment; I could instantly see myself sitting on my bed, bantering with my mother. I closed my eyes at the memory and I think Amy took that as a sign of exhaustion.
"Maria, why don't we let her take a nap on your bed," she turned to me, " you've been through a lot, and you're positively pale, why don't you get some rest."
"Thank you"
They both exited the room as I lay down on the yellow comforter. I closed my eyes, willing sleep to come and whisk me off to a land where I was just a normal girl, in a normal world, in a normal family.
Sleep, however, declined my invitation.
I got up and went to the living room; Maria was watching T.V and looked up with surprised expression on her face. "Couldn't sleep?" she asked. "No."
"I think I'm going to go for a walk, see if I can clear my head."
"Want some company?" she offered kindly.
"No thanks."
I took a step out and began walking, not really caring which direction I went in. I just stuck to the sidewalk went on, not really noticing anything, after a while I found myself across the street from a park. I wanted to sit in some shade so I walked over and placed my back against a large tree and sat down. For a while I had one of those experiences where your mind is totally and utterly blank, where you can just sit and stare and you don't have to worry about anything because you are just looking at the scenery, you don't have to consider the little things.
I snapped myself out of this semi-trance as I could see dusk approaching. Just as I got up I heard a vehicle approaching from the other side of the park. I saw a shadow get out and then the figure's face was lit up under a park-light. It was Max. I gathered up my courage and strode purposefully over to the table that he was sitting at.
"I need to talk to you."
He didn't say anything as he locked eyes with me. I felt my mind start to go soft and looked away. .
"I need to talk to you about this." I pulled up my shirt a little and his eyes got wide. The handprint seemed to have its own luminescence as it glowed brightly. He stood up sharply and pulled my shirt down, looking both ways.
I caught his eyes and asked him.
"What's going on?"
Neither of us spoke for several moments, he seemed to be deciding on something.
"I was shot wasn't I?"
His eyes fell to the faded wood of the table.
"I healed you."
His voice was so soft I had to lean in to hear.
"I'm an alien."
"R...r..r…really."
I backstepped. Then stopped. He healed me. Alien or Not. He healed me. I shouldn't be afraid of him.
He sat down. I joined him.
He placed his hands on the table. I placed my left hand on top of them.
Deep inside there was a piece of Liz Parker that was surely freaking out. But oddly enough most of me was just thankful. And accepting. I know what you're thinking. What kind of drugs is she on? None.
The moment I placed my hand on his he turned to me and stared deep into my eyes. "You can't tell anyone," he said with quiet desperation.
"I won't."
I wanted to voice the question that was in both of our minds. Why did we feel so comfortable next to each other? All I felt was security and yes love, when I was near him, and I hadn't even known him for more then a few hours.
I remembered the flashes suddenly and spoke up.
"I saw things when you healed me, visions."
"I made a connection with you," he stated.
He looked directly at me this time.
"And I saw visions of you."
I saw something different in his eyes.
He knew.
I yanked my hand of his and stood up quickly and stepped back a few steps.
"I know, Liz"
With that I sat down hard onto the cold grass and began to cry. Max came over and wrapped his arms around me as he let me cry onto his shoulder. I wiped my tears away and said softly.
"You can't tell anyone."
We both smiled a bit at the similarity in our situations, of the secrets we both shared. We sat there for the longest time, until I realized that it wasn't going to show good manners to show up late at the DeLuca's
"I've got to go." I said softly as I wrapped my fingers around his.
"Let me drive you."
"Thanks"
We started walking towards the Jeep. "You're staying with the DeLuca's right?"
How did he know that? I gave him a quizzical look and he laughed.
"Maria called Michael, Michael called me."
"Small town" I said with a grin on my face.
We drove for a few blocks until my heart stopped.
There were three State Trooper's cruisers in front of the DeLuca's.
I knew exactly what they were there for.
I ducked down onto the floorboard and then Max saw the lights. He sped up a little and continued driving.
After a while I sat up in my seat and stared vacantly out the window.
I felt his hand grab mine though, and suddenly I thought, I can deal, I can get through this, because I am Liz Parker, girl extraordinaire….
TBC…